Bible Matter 332:  Prayer to Walk with Jesus

During this season of sacrifice in preparation for the resurrection of Jesus, let’s plan for your resurrection!  In this life, God wants you to recognize that the things of the flesh lead to destruction.  The path to God must be planned, served and carried out.  Understand his words and his instructions leading unto life! 

Matthew 7:14 – Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Pray to gain the spirit of fire in your belly to serve God.  To do his works and share his love and gospel.  Not to be saved, but to be significant while serving Jesus. 

James 2:26 – For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.

James 1:22-23 – But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

Faith means work.  You don’t hide your faith under a bushel basket and by patting yourself on the back in your own self-righteousness, telling yourself that you deserve heaven, by just being you.  Jesus told you not to be ashamed of his Gospel.  Not to deny him and to confess him before men.  Be not offended.

Luke 9:26 – For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.

Matthew 10:33,38 – But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Today, you are to be his witness!

Luke 12:8-9 – Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

Luke 7:23 – And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

You are told to keep ourselves from idols.

1 John 5:21 – Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen

God has chosen you already.  Time for you to choose him!  Read his word.  Stay strong in the scriptures.  Be ready to share God’s word in all that you do.  Hold fast to the traditions of God. Take up your cross and follow him.  

Matthew 16:24 – … If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

When you are a servant for Jesus, you are no longer a servant, but a friend! 

John 15:13-15 – Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; …

Jesus gave up his life, so you could have life.  He wants you to give up your life of serving the devil and only serve him.  Never plan on being rejected at the gate of heaven as Howard Pittman was by serving the god of self and give glory to yourself for the things you are doing for God.  Howard Pittman preached eternal security or the doctrine of once saved always saved.  He died and was able to turn from satan at the gates of hell.  On the dark side of the gate of heaven, God told Howard that his faith was dead and his works were an abomination.  Howard’s teachings called Jesus, “Lord”, but it didn’t make Jesus, “Lord.”  When you call Jesus “Lord,” it gives him a title.  To make Jesus, “Lord,” it promotes him to ruler of your life.  When you make him “Lord,” then you follow his commandments, cease from the sins of the flesh, serve him and others and go live your life for the glory of God.  With the power of the Holy Ghost, endure to the end and look forward to judgement day when you stand before Jesus. 

“Howard Pittman’s Near Death Experience” testimony can be found using the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKnwGMG7PHg&t=124sg

If Howard’s doctrine of eternal security offered in the doctrine of once saved always saved was correct, then you have to ask yourself, “why was Howard rejected by God at the gates of heaven?”  God is warning you not to be lazy and be hearers only of his Word preached by others, sitting back, looking in the mirror and saying to yourself, “I am such a good person and I’m going to heaven!”  Next time this feeling strikes you, humble yourself, look in the mirror and say a prayer to Jesus in your words.  An example is as follows:

Prayer to Jesus: “God, help me understand your Words.  God, what else can I do for you today?  How else can I share your love and your word to the lost?  I know that I can’t save them, but I know you can!”

Start by studying and then sharing God’s word.  Share this book with friends.  Invite them to church.  Buy them lunch and pray to God before you eat.  Let charity rule your life and be significant for the Lord.  All good things come from the Lord, from heaven. 

John 3:27 – John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.